Glen A. Wilson High School has been named a 2024 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education (CDE), recognizing the Hacienda La Puente Unified school for demonstrating exceptional student performance and achieving accelerated academic growth for one or more historically underserved student groups. Glen A. Wilson High is one of just 293 secondary schools honored in 2024. To be selected, the CDE used multiple measures to identify eligible schools based on their performance on the state indicators specified in the 2023 California School Dashboard.
Longtime Whittier resident Yoshio Nakamura discovered his love of art while stationed in Italy as a member of the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. Immersing himself in the works of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Raphael, Nakamura began to lay the foundation for a lifelong career as an artist and teacher – a career that got its start when Nakamura was hired as a teacher at Whittier High School in 1952. Acknowledging Nakamura’s contributions as a teacher and his commitment to art education, the Whittier Union Board of Trustees voted unanimously on March 12 to dedicate the Whittier High School Fine Arts building in his honor. This honor celebrates the man who shook off the adversity of being interned with his family in WWII to become a highly decorated war hero and beloved teacher and administrator at Whittier High and, later, as Río Hondo College’s first art professor.
The Río Hondo College Foundation will host “Roadrunner Madness,” a faculty vs. administration volleyball match as part of a fundraising event to support student scholarships. The event is open to the public, with tickets available for purchase online now for $15. Individuals can contribute to support the event and Río Hondo College’s students, regardless of their ability to attend, by donating here.
he Río Hondo College Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Division will host its second annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Festival for local elementary, middle and high school students. The free community event will allow families to conduct hands-on experiments orchestrated by Río Hondo College students, faculty and community partners in chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, arts and more. Entry and parking for the three-hour event are complimentary, but registrations are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis at this link. Participant students will get prizes for finishing STEAM activities along with free raffle prizes for a few lucky winners.
Lynwood Unified School District’s Vista High School is among 31 schools in the state recognized as a 2024 Model Continuation High School by the California Department of Education for fostering a supportive learning environment for at-promise youth and providing exemplary instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, and support services to ensure personal and academic success. Vista High School serves students in the District who require a flexible schedule due to jobs, family needs or other life circumstances. The school’s efforts to promote academic and social success for every student contributed to Vista’s recognition as a Model Continuation High School.
Cesar Chavez Middle School has earned the coveted distinction of being named a 2024 School to Watch by the California Department of Education and California League of Educators (CLE) for its exemplary performance in fostering a positive campus culture and providing an enriching curriculum that boosts student engagement and success. Cesar Chavez Middle School (CCMS) is the second Lynwood Unified School District campus to become a School to Watch, joining Hosler Middle School, which earned the distinction in 2023. District and CCMS leaders will accept the award at the CLE 2024 Annual Conference on Friday, March 8.
Cedarlane Academy, Fairgrove Academy, Mesa Robles School, and Valinda School of Academics have been named 2024 Schools to Watch by the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California League of Educators, recognizing their continued success in keeping students engaged through a critical stage in their K-12 educational journey, demonstrating social equity and helping them achieve academic excellence. The four campuses are among 16 schools to be newly designated as Schools to Watch and will be honored alongside 36 re-designated model schools at the annual California League of Schools Conference held March 8-9 in Monterey.
10 Bonita Unified Students Named to Regional Junior High Honor Choir
Four Lone Hill Middle School students were selected to perform with the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA) Junior High Honor Choir, a prestigious group that consists of students in grades six to nine selected by audition. This year’s Lone Hill honorees – Cristian Figueroa, Julian Gonzalez, Layla Lopez, and Rachel Wu – mark the largest group of Lone Hill students selected in a year. Six Bonita High School freshmen were also selected to perform in the SCVA Junior High Honor Choir this year: Harper Gaudart, Serenity Ng, Kennedy Salazar Nieves, Allison Shutts, Ava Sierra, and Bailey Zylstra. In total, 20 Bonita Unified students, from grades six to 12, were selected for SCVA Honor Choirs this school year. The SCVA Junior High Honor Choir will perform on May 4 at Portola High School in Irvine.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Middle Schools Cited as Schools to Watch
Cedarlane Academy, Fairgrove Academy, Mesa Robles School, and Valinda School of Academics have been named 2024 Schools to Watch by the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California League of Educators, recognizing their continued success in keeping students engaged through a critical stage in their K-12 educational journey, demonstrating social equity, and helping them achieve academic excellence. The four campuses are among 16 schools to be newly designated as Schools to Watch and will be honored alongside 36 re-designated model schools at the annual California League of Schools Conference held March 8-9 in Monterey.
Bonita Unified School District will be represented at the National ProStart Invitational for the second year in a row, following Bonita High School’s success at the California ProStart Cup, held Feb. 21 and 22. Bonita High School’s culinary team “Chicks” punched their ticket to nationals after winning first place in the Culinary Cup at the state contest. San Dimas High School students also excelled at the ProStart Cup; students Gabriel Costa and Austin Garcia took first and third, respectively, in the “Dress Your Dog” competition and senior Christina Jones took first place in the Loaded Idaho Potato competition – both of which tasked competitors with creating inventive toppings for their respective items. Bonita High School’s culinary team will represent California at the National ProStart Invitational, held April 26 to 28 in Baltimore. San Dimas High School’s ProStart team placed third in the restaurant management contest at the national competition in 2023.
